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Brisbane\u2019s dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale is heading for a high-stakes hearing at the AFL tribunal as he fights to play Saturday\u2019s grand final against his former team, Fremantle.<\/p>\n
Neale, 33, was banned from playing in the grand final when the AFL\u2019s match review officer on Sunday found him guilty of striking Hawthorn\u2019s Jack Ginnivan in the closing minutes of the first quarter of Saturday\u2019s preliminary final.<\/p>\n
![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1636df6bb82eba80860b5b64256fdf9a6aeaa414.jpeg\")
Chris Fagan and Lachie Neale celebrate the Lions preliminary final win.Getty Images<\/p>\n
The MRO found Neale made intentional, medium-force contact to Ginnivan\u2019s body and banned him for one match, but as soon as that verdict became official the Brisbane Lions confirmed they would challenge it at the tribunal.<\/p>\n
The charge arises from an interaction between Neale and Ginnivan on the 50m line at the city end of the MCG.<\/p>\n
The fact Ginnivan played on, seemingly without discomfort, could possibly form part of Neale\u2019s defence if he seeks to get the charge downgraded to a low-impact strike, which would free him up to play in Saturday\u2019s grand final.<\/p>\n
However, nine players have been suspended for offences of this nature this season, and the two who challenged them at the tribunal were unsuccessful.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Neale was under an injury cloud going into last year\u2019s decider but played as a substitute, shedding the vest in the second half and starring as his team charged to its second successive premiership.<\/p>\n
Now with a Lions three-peat on the line, Neale is again the focus of grand final week.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s more, the match is widely understood to be his final outing in Brisbane colours, as it\u2019s expected he will move to Collingwood as a free agent in the off-season.<\/p>\n
Although he hasn\u2019t been in peak form this finals series, Neale \u2013 a former Lions captain \u2013 remains a pivotal cog in Brisbane\u2019s midfield. But his footballing prowess has been overshadowed this year by off-field dramas, firstly the collapse of his relationship with wife Jules, who moved home to Western Australia with their two children, followed by continued speculation over his playing future.<\/p>\n
Neale copped a heavy knock in the opening seconds of Saturday\u2019s thrilling preliminary final win over Hawthorn, coling off second best after a collision at a centre ball-up with Hawk Jai Newcombe.<\/p>\n
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